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Chris Breen isn't a goon, but he doesn't want to be considered a gentle giant, either.

At 6-foot-7 and 230 lb., the 23-year-old blueliner certainly has the physical traits to be an imposing presence on the ice.

Now is his third campaign with the AHL's Abbotsford Heat since scoring an entry-level deal from the Calgary Flames organization as an undrafted free agent in 2010, Breen is putting more emphasis on using that to his advantage.

"I've always had the size, but I just think I haven't always realized how to use it, and I'm still kind of trying to figure it out every game. It's a work in progress still," Breen said. "I think I'm just a little more confident in my body. It's a big frame, so strength and speed and stuff are catching up with me every year. I'm just really starting to get confident with what I can do.

"I don't really feel pressure to do it -- (physical play) is just something I do to help the team out. It's kind of a role I have to play within the organization to get a shot ... If I add this to my game, it's just one more thing that helps me get to the next level."

On Wednesday morning, the Heat will face the Chicago Wolves in a rare early start in the Windy City. They also have road dates this weekend with the Grand Rapids Griffins and Rockford IceHogs before splitting for the holiday season.

Breen probably doesn't want to be sporting a shiner or a fat lip when he returns to Uxbridge, Ont., for his Christmas break, but he hasn't been shying away from any workplace hazards this winter.

According to hockeyfights.com, former U.S. military man Zach McKelvie leads the Heat with six scraps so far this season. Next on that list is Breen, who has dropped the mitts four times in 26 regular-season skates. His career-high for fights at any level is five fisticuffs during the 2007-08 campaign with the OHL's Saginaw Spirit.

"He's done a nice job. He's defended his teammates very well when he needed to and he's defended his own space, most importantly, just as well," said Heat head coach Troy Ward. "Sometimes, it's one thing to ask a player to go defend a teammate and he'll very likely do that because that's such a quality that you want to have about you as a player. But, a lot of times, players won't take the time to defend themselves. I think he has grown in both areas.

"He's matured, and now he almost defends his own space just as much as his teammates."

He defends the net well, too, and that remains Breen's top priority.

The left-handed defenceman has often being paired with journeyman Steve McCarthy, who has 302 NHL outings on his resume, and they're seeing a lot of the top scoring line for the opposition.

Breen has also scored two goals of his own, including an overtime game-winner, and has one assist. He's a plus-2.

"Confidence is huge. At this time last year, I don't know if I had it quite like I do this year," Breen said. "When I came into the league two-and-a-half years ago, I obviously had a lot more things to work on than I do now. That's just good coaching and playing against these players at this level. It's just a growing process."

Flames Future: Chris Breen big man on campus

Chris Breen isn't a goon, but he doesn't want to be considered a gentle giant, either.

At 6-foot-7 and 230 lb., the 23-year-old blueliner certainly has the physical traits to be an imposing presence on the ice.

Now is his third campaign with the AHL's Abbotsford Heat since scoring an entry-level deal from the Calgary Flames organization as an undrafted free agent in 2010, Breen is putting more emphasis on using that to his advantage.